Cue-chalker.



L. JAY. CUE GHALKER,

APPLICATION I'ILED MAY 7, 1910,

974,066. I Patented Oct. 25, 191 0.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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A. L. JAY.

CUE OHALKBR.

APPLICATION PILTD M'AY 7. 1910.

Patented Oct. 25, 1910.

2 SHEETS-831E121 2.

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ALFRED L. JAY, OF ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI.

CUE-CHALKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 25, 1910.

Application filed May 7, 1910. Serial No. 560,073.

To all whom it may concern:

the rail of the table.

Be it known that I, ALFRED L. JAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Joseph, in the county of Buchanan and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cue-Chalkers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in one chalking devices and has for its object to provide a simple and inexpensive device of this character whereby the cue tip may be quickly chalked, without wasting the chalk or depositing the chalk powder upon the floor.

Another object resides in the provision of a movable chalk holding member slidably arranged in a suitable casing, andmeans for rotating the chalk during one direction of movement and preventing its rotation upon its return to its normal position. A still further objectv is to provide a cue chalking device which may be attached to the side of a pool or billiard table, and a guide extending from the side of the table adapted to direct the one into engagement with the chalk and to permit the cue to be easily turned as the same is inserted in the mouth of the chalking device.

Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of a section of one of the side rails of a pool or billiard table showing my improved chalking device attached thereto; Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section; Fig. 3 is a sect-ion taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line l4t of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the chalk holding head.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 5 indicates a casing preferably formed of sheet metal. This casing is of substantially rectangular form in cross section, the front and top being formed in one piece and bent or curved, as shown at 6, to provide a perfectly smooth outer surface for the casing so that it will not interfere with the movement of the players as they bend over The back of this casing is provided at each end with the attaching plates 7 which are adapted to be secured to the side of the table by means of the screws 8.

A pair of spaced parallel plates 9 are secured within the casing adjacent to its longitudinal center. These plates are secured to the walls of the casing by means of screws or other suitable fastenings and provide very effectual braces. They also serve another and more important purpose which will later appear. A guide rod 10 is longitudinally extended through the casing adjacent to the top and bottom walls thereof. These rods are centrally arranged and extend through the openings 11 formed in the spaced plates 9. One end of each rod is secured in a stationary closure plate 12 fixed in one end of the casing 5. The other ends of these rods are threaded into the transversely disposed stop bars 13. The

plates 9 are also formed with a central open-.

ing 14 of considerably greater diameter than the openings 11 through which a longitudinally movable shaft 15 is positioned. This rod or shaft 15 is formed with a spiral groove 16 and has arranged on one end a bar 17 which extends radially from opposite sides of the shaft. This end of the shaft 15 is formed with a reduced screw threaded stud 15' which extends through an opening formed in the bar 17. This threaded stud has threaded engagement in a boss 18 formed upon a chalk holding head 18. This chalk holding head comprises a plurality of resilient sheet metal plates 19 which are integrally formed with the boss 18'. The outer edges of these plates are slightly bent outwardly so that the chalk cube may be readily inserted therein. The chalk C is securely held between these resilient plates 19 which have clamping engagement upon each side of the cube. It Will be obvious that if desired this chalk holding head may be greatly varied in form to receive chalk blocks or sticks of any cross sectional form.

The ends of the bar 17 are normally held in engagement with the stop bars 13 by means of the coil springs 20. These springs are disposed upon the longitudinally extending rods 10 bet-ween the closed end 12 of the casing and the ends of the bar 17 In order to provide means for rotating the shaft 15 and the chalk holding head 18 during its inward longitudinal movement, I

provide a ratchet 21 which is arranged upon said shaft between the spaced parallel plates 9. The bore of this ratchet through which the shaft 15 extends is provided with an inwardly extending lug 22. This lug is at all times disposed in the spiral groove 16 of the shaft 15. A gravity dog 28 is pivotally mounted at one end between the plates t) above said ratchet and securely holds the same against rotation in one direction while permitting of its free movement in the opposite direction. It will thus be obvious that when pressure brought to bear upon the chalk cube and the shaft 15 forced inwardly, said shaft will be rotated owing to the fact that the ratchet'is held stationary and the engagement of the lug 22 in the spiral groove 16 engages the wall of said groove and tends to retard the longitudinal movement of the shaft. \Vhen pressure is released upon the chalk cube and the springs 20 expand to return the same to its normal position, the lug 22 will move in the groove 16 instead of remaining stationary, the ratchet 21 rotating between the plates 9. Thus the shaft 15 only moves longitudinally but does not rotate as the chalk cube returns to its normal position in the outer end of the casing.

In order to provide means for removing the chalk dust from the interior of the cas ing, the bottom of said casing for approximately one-half of its length is longitudinally slotted, as shown at 25. A longitudinal plate 26 is secured at its edges to the bottom of the casing upon opposite sides of the slot 25 and is inclined downwardly'from the opposite ends of said slot. This plate is also transversely inclined and is centrally formed with a depending flange 27. This fiange is of substantially circular form and provided with exterior threads to receive a closure cap 28. The end of the casing 5 which receives the one is provided with a hinged cover or cap 29 which has formed thereon a flared mouth 30. This flared mouth is in line with the chalk cube C and is adapted to guide the end of the one into contact with the same. A suitable latch 31 is carried by the hinged cover plate 29 to securely hold the same closed. In order to permit the cue to be quickly inserted into the chalking device, I preferably fix in the side of the table a supporting bracket 32 which is of angular form and is provided with a substantially U-shaped outer end 33 in which the cue is positioned. This support is arranged at some distance in advance of the flared entrance mouth 30 and in line therewith. Thus the player may stand at one end of the table and place his cue in the end of the supporting arm to quickly position the same in the casing 5. Pressure upon the one will force the chalk holding head and the bar 17 inwardly and compress the springs At the same time the chalk cube will be rotated and thus thoroughly chalk the cue tip. As the reverse rotation of the head 18 is prevented in the return movement of the same, it will be obvious that the chalk which has been previously supplied to the cue tip will not be disturbed or the one tip itself unduly worn by frequent chalking.

From the foregoing it willbe seen that I have provided a device which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in construction. By means of the same, cue tips may be very quickly chalked without necessitating the soiling of the hands or clothes or wasting the chalk in applying the same. The chalk powder is also collected in the bottom of the casing and its deposit upon the floor is thus prevented.

IVhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the same is susceptible of many minor modifications without departing from the essential features or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a yieldingly held chalk holder adapted for longitudinal movement, means for rotating said holder during such movement when pressure is applied thereon and for preventing its rotation when the pressure is released and the holder returns to its normal position.

2. A device of the character described comprising a yieldingly held chalk holder, a longitudinally movable shaft adapted to be moved by pressure upon the chalk, and

means engaging with said shaft to rotate said chalk while pressure is applied thereto and to prevent such rotation when the pressure is released and the shaft is returned to its normal position.

3. A device of the character described comprising a casing, a shaft mounted in said casing for longitudinal movement, a chalk holding head fixed upon one end of the shaft, means yieldingly holding said shaft against longitudinal movement, and means arranged within the casing engaging with said shaft to rotate the shaft in one direction of its longitudinal movement and to prevent its rotation in the other direction of such movement.

4. A device of the character described comprising a casing having one of its ends closed, bracing plates centrally arranged in the casing, a shaft longitudinally movable through said plates, a chalk holding head fixed upon one end of the shaft, a plurality of springs arranged in the casing yieldingly holding said shaft and head against movement, and means arranged between said bracing plates adapted to rotate said shaft as it is moved longitudinally in one direction and to prevent such rotation during its reverse longitudinal movement.

5. A device of the character described comprising a casing having a closed and an open end, spaced bracing plates arranged within the casing, stop bars secured in the open end of the casing, longitudinally extending rods secured to said bars and the closed end of the casing, a shaft supported within said casing upon said rods and bracing plates for longitudinal movement, a chalk holding head fixed upon one end of the shaft, and means arranged between said plates to rotate said shaft in one direction of its longitudinal movement and prevent its rotation in the reverse direction of such movement.

6. A device of the character described comprising a casing having a closed and an open end, bracing plates centrally arranged in the casing, longitudinally extending rods fixed in the closed end of the casing and extending through said plates, a shaft extending centrally through said plates and sup ported at one end by said rods, a chalk holding head fixed upon said shaft, said shaft and head being longitudinally movable, springs arranged on said rods normally holding the shaft against longitudinal movement, and means arranged between said bracing plates engaged with the shaft to rotate said shaft and head in one direction of their longitudinal movement and to prevent such rotation in the reverse direction of their longitudinal movement.

7. A device of the character described comprising a casing having one of its ends closed, a hinged cover plate for the other end of said casing, a shaft supported in said casing for longitudinal movement, a chalk holding head secured on one end of said shaft, springs longitudinally disposed in the casing and normally holding said shaft against movement, stop bars arranged in the casing for limiting the outward movement of the shaft, and means arranged in said casing engaging with the shaft to rotate the same when oressure is applied to the chalk in said 1101 ing head, said means also preventing the rotation of said shaft and head in the reverse longitudinal movement of the shaft.

8. A device of the character described comprisin a casing having one of its ends closed and a hinged cover plate for the other end thereof, spaced bracing plates arranged centrally in the casing, each formed with a central opening, oppositely disposed longitudinally extending rods-fixed at one of their ends in the closed end of the casing and extending through said bracing plates, stop bars arranged in the casing, the other ends of said rods being secured in the bars, a shaft longitudinally movable through the openings in said bracing plates, a bar longitudinally movable upon said rods and supporting one end of the shaft, a chalk holding head secured to the shaft, a ratchet arranged between said bracing plates upon the shaft, said shaft having a spiral groove therein, a lug on the ratchet disposed in said groove and a dog pivoted between said plates engaging with the teeth of the ratchet to hold the same against rotation in one direction, said ratchet being adapted to rotate said shaft when pressure is applied to the chalk in the holding head, the reverse longitudinal movement of the shaft upon the release of the pressure rotating said ratchet, the lug thereon moving in the groove of said shaft.

9. A device of the character described comprising a casing, a yieldin 'ly held longitudinally movable chalk hol ing head arranged in said casing, a hinged closure plate for one end of the casing having a flared extension in alinement with the chalk holding head, means for rotating said head when pressure is applied thereon, the bottom of said casing being longitudinally slotted, and an inclined plate secured to the bottom of the casing having a depending flange and a closure engaged thereon adapted to receive the powder from the chalk held by said head.

10. A device of the character described comprising a yieldingly held longitudinally movable chalk holding head, said head comprising a plurality of resilient plates adapted for clamping engagement upon the chalk, and means for rotating said head simultaneously with its longitudinal movement in one direction and preventing such rotation of the head in its longitudinal movement in the reverse direction.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRED L. JAY.

\Vitnesses WM. STEPHENSON, H. B. HORN. 

